Power-driven mower



A. N. WA LSTROM POWER July 11, 1950 -DRIVEN MOWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1945 /N!' ENTOR HXEL M WHLSTR Bv%@z.

HTTDRNE-Y I: am

July 11, 1950 Filed 'July 2, 1945 A. N. WALSTROM POWER-DRIVEN MOWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HXEL M. WEI-5 TRoM r %g, x W

HTTORNEY July 11, 1950 A. N. WALSTROM 2,514,917

POWER-DRIVEN MOWER Filed July 2, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 1950 2,514,917 POWER-DRIVENIMOWER Axel M. Walstrom, Minneapolis, Minn. Application July 2, 1945, Serial No. 602,738

This invention relates to a mower and-while the invention is capable of doing mowing of and one which can be very easily and quickly controlled by the operator.

It is another object of theinvention to provide a mowing device comprising a pair of supporting wheels, an axle on which said wheels are mounted, a comparatively narrow frame carried on said axle and oscillatable about the axis thereof, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, handles at the rear of said frame adapted to be grasped by the operator for manipulating said device, a motor on said frame at the rear of said axle for driving said cutter and wheels, and a speed reduction unit and cutter driving means at the front of said axle where by said frame is substantially balanced,

It is another object of the invention to provide a mowing device comprismg a pair of supporting wheels, amember on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said member, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame, means for driving said cutter from said motor, means for driving each of said wheels from said motor and means for rendering more or less inoperative one of the driving means to said wheels whereby the other of said wheels will act to cause said device to turn.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a mowing device comprising a pair of supporting wheels, a frame supported by said 14 Claims. (Cl. 5626.5)

mounted, a narrow frame carried on said axle and constructed and arranged for universal movement about an intermediate point on said axle, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame,

means for driving said cutter and said wheels wheels, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame, means extending to each of said wheels for driving the same from said motor, a pair of handles at the rear of said frame adapted to be grasped by the operator and means actuated by movement of either of said handles for rendering more or less inoperative one of said means whereby the wheel driven by the other of said means will act to cause said device to turn.

It is further an object of the inventionito provide'a mowing device comprising a pair of supporting wheels, an axle on which said Wheels are from said motor and means disposed at the rear of said frame adapted to be held by the operator for controlling said device.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a mowing device having a pair of supporting wheels, a frame supported by said wheels, a cutter disposed at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame, means extending to each of said wheels for driving the same from said motor including a belt and means preferably in the form of movable handles, actuated by the operator for slackening either of said belts, whereby the wheel driven by the other of said belts will act to cause said device to turn or whereby both belts may be slackened to stop or reduce the driving effect thereof so that said driver may be pulled rearwardly by the operator.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide such a device as set forth in the preceding paragraph, said device having a pair of movable handles, preferably arranged for opposite movement, disposed at the rear of said frame,

said last mentioned means being connected to and operated by movement of said handles.

It is also an object of this invention'to provide a mower comprising a pair of supporting Wheels, a frame carried by said wheels, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, means for driving said cutter, means at the rear of saidframe adapted to be held by the operator for manipulating said device, said frame being oscillatable transversely relatively to said wheels, whereby the operator can hold said outter parallel to the ground while said wheels may respectively rise or fall in accordance with the terrain and so that full traction will be had by said wheels at all times.

It is again an object of this invention to provide a mower comprising a pair of wheels, a frame supported on said wheels, a cutter carried at the front of said frame and extending transversely thereof, a motor carried on said frame, means for driving said cutter from said motor including a belt and means adapted to be actuated by the operator for slackening saidbelt to discontinue the driving of said cutter, whereby said belt and means has the effect of a clutch.

It is still more specifically an object of the invention to provide a mowing device comprising a pair of supporting wheels, a frame carried by said wheels, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame at the rear of the axis of said wheels, a counter-shaft carried on said frame extending longitudinally thereof, a belt connecting the rear end of said counted-shaft and said motor, a speed reduction unit on said frame in front of the axis of said wheels, means connecting said counter-shaft and said speed reduction unit and means connecting said speed reduction unit and said cutter for driving the latter.

It is also an object of the invention to-provide such a device as set forth in the precedingp'aragraph together with means preferably in. the form of a belt connecting said speed reduction unit and each of said wheels for driving the latter.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in thefollowing description made in, connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which: I l t t Fig. l is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation-of said device; 7

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line '33 of Fig. 2, some parts being omitted and other parts being shownin different positions in dotted lines;

Fig. lis a'vie'w similar to Fig. 3, the central part of the section being taken ata slightly higher plane;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows; and v Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the device.

Referring to the drawings, a mowing device is shown having a pair of supporting wheels it. While these wheels could be' variouslymadefthey are shown ascomprising rims 10a e uipped with pneumatic tires 10b, Said wheels are mounted upon an axle II and will rotate upon suitable bearings, suchas ball bearings (not shown) Hub caps I! are shown'at the, outer side of each wheel secured by headed screws 53. The axle H is shown as'being cylindrical orin the form of a roundrod which is cut away at its central pornon. The ends of said axle adjacent saidlcentral portion are beveled as shown at. I la in Figs. Sand 5, the bevel extending from each sideof the shaft to a central plane so that there is a vertical edge at the end of the shaft disposed substantially cencould be variously formed, they are illustratedas in the form of bars rectangular in cross section, member l5 being somewhat shorter than member M. A shaft I6,'of comparatively short length, extends between the beveled ends I m of axle ll substantially in contact therewith and between members I4. and I5. Shaft lfiis supported at its front end in the vertical portionof an angle bracket IT. A headed screw I8 extends through bracket I! into shaft !6. At its rear and shaft l6 isconnected by a headed screw lSthreaded thereinto and through the verticalflan ge of an angle member to which bracket H is secured by a headed andnutted bolt 2|. Angle member 293 forms ,partof the frame of the device, which frame also comprises longitudinally,extending members 22 illustrated as in the form of angle and these are connected at their adjacent upper ends to horizontally extending members 25 by headed 'and' nutted bolts 25. Members 25 are shown as extending longitudinally of the device in substantially parallel relation and are illustrated as in the form of'channels having their flanges facing away from each other. Other frame members 28 are connected respectivelyto the front ends of members 25, as by welding, and extend downwardly and forwardly towards members 2 2.

A bracketgfil issecured between the members 22 adjacentthe front. ends thereof by headed bolts 3;. Brackets! has spaced bosses, all; which are bored to receive the. bolts 32. Bracketfii extends downwardlyat thefront of the machine and is welded ,to across harem-which, extends transversely substantially equal distances from the longitudinal center ,ofthe machine and the frame thereof. Crossbar -3 carries forwardly. projecting guards 3} c inv the form of pointed teeth which are provided with a guide. channel --3ld in which is guided for reciprocationasickle 34. Sickle 34 has forwardly projecting teeth 34a substantially triangularin form, the same having rear rectangular portions secured by bolts or rivets 35 to a lower bar 341) forming part of the sickle. Upper guide members 36: are disposed in spaced relation along crossbar Sid and secured thereto by bolts 31, thesame having forwardly extending portions extending over and substantially in contactwithsickl-e 341,; Memberstfi are shown as four in number. A member 40, illustrated asin the form of an angle, has a horizontal forwardly projecting flange secured .to sickle 34 by the spaced screws Al. Member .Ml has a vertically extending flange. to which is connected by a pivot bolt or pin 62 one endiof ashort link43, the other end. of which is connected by a pivot bolt or pin M to the lower end ofa-member or bar 45 which extends upwardly and rearwardly and has a hub secured to a shaft46. Said hub of member .35 has a radially projecting arm 4.5a, thejoiiter end of which is pit/totally connected by a headed pin Litto the .lower end of a link 49,. Pin -48 is held, in

place in any suitable manner as by a pin or cotter 50 extending therethrough. LinkASi is pivotally connected at its upper end to ,a crank pin 5| journaled in a crank disc 52. Crank disc 52 is connected to .a, rotating shaft lila projecting from a speedre'duction unit 5 3. Speed reduction unit. 54 -comprises.a casing .as shown having a forwardlyprojecting flangefidbsupported upon and secured to the. frame membcrsZZ, said flange being secured byiheaded and nutted bolts 55 A.

member .57, illustrated asan angle bar, extends between .and is supported uponmembers 22, being secured thereto byheadedand nutted bolts 58. ,Headed screws 59 extend through the vertical flanges of member 51 and into the casing of speed reduction'junit 54', thus further securing saidunit.

A'motor ulilllis mounted on the frameof the machine, the same'beingishown as having .a casing with laterally extending 'flanges 60a-.at its bottom, which flanges rest'upon frame members 22. Flanges 60a are connected to members 22 by the headed and nutted bolts 6| While motor 60 might beof various types, inthe embodiment of the'invention illustrated it is shown as an internal combustion motor." Said motor is illustratedas having a gas tank 60bequipped with a filling spout and capfiflc. "A motor shaft 63 projects fromthe front of motor 60 and-has secured thereto a pulley 64. A counter-shaft GBis provided, the same extending longitudinally of said frame and being disposed sorr ie distance above axle I I. Shaft 66' is journaled in a sleeve bearing 61 in turn supported upon spaced .cradlebrackets 08, said brackets as shown :in Fig. 5having con-- cave portions in which bearing 61 isdisposed. Eye bolts 69 are carried on'bolt 29, which bolt passes through the eyes thereof and said eyebolts extend through holes in the ends of one bracket .68, the latter being supported uponnuts 10 threaded on eyes bolts 69. A crank member I4 extends through apertures inplatelike brackets I5 secured to the inner .side of each channel 25, the

crank portionof member I4 being disposed be-' tween brackets I5 and passing through the eyes of a pair of spaced eye bolts .16 which pass through apertures inthe ends oftherear bracket 68, said brackets resting upon nuts 11. threaded on bolts I6. Crank I4 has a handle portion-at the outer side of one channel member 25 and is equipped with a horizontal handle portion'I Ia. A pin I8 projects from channel 25 and is arranged tobe engaged by crank I4 when in the position shown in Fig. 5. Counter-shaft 68 at its rear end has secured thereto a pulley 80. anda belt 8I runs over pulleys 64 and 80, said pulleys being shown as of the grooved type. A pulley 82 is secured to the front end of counter-shaft'fifi. The shaft 54a projects from the rear end -of speed reductionunit 54 and has a pulley'82a secured thereto. 'A-

belt '83 runs over pulleys 82 and 82a, which pulleys are also shownas of the grooved type."

Motor 60 hasa shaft projecting at itsrear side to which is secured a grooved rope starting as a worm and worm wheel connecting shafts 54a and 54d. A further description of said unit is considered unnecessary.

A rodlike link 92 isconnected to axle adjacent each pulley 88. While linkst92could be variously so connected, they are shown as having their ends bent around axle I I.- Links 92 extend rearwardly and have their rear ends bent inwardly substantially at right angles and extending through levers 93 respectively formed of flat bars, said ends of links 92 being secured in any suitable manner, as by cotter pins 93a. Levers 93 are pivoted adjacent their lower ends on pivot members 94 secured in small angle brackets 95 in turn secured to members 22 respectively by the screws 96. Levers 93 are bent at an angle to thus be of the bell crank type and are connected adlatent their upper ends to rod links 98 which extend rearwardly and upwardly and are secured J at their upper ends in apertures formed in brackets 99 which embrace and are clamped'to a pair of handles I00 respectively by headed screws IOI. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, brackets 99 project inwardly from handles I00. While handles I00 could be variously formed, in the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated they are shown as tubular in form, the same being bent I05 are also connected to framemembers 25 by bolts I06. Members I05 are also connected to the vertically extending frame members 23 by headed and nutted bolts I0! respectively, which bolts may be disposed in any one of a plurality of holes 23a formed in members 23. Handles I05 as stated are pivoted on the pivot screws I04 and said handles are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a tensile coiled spring I09 secured at its ends to the handles I00 respectively by aheaded screw H0. Screw IIO can be disposed in any one of a plurality of holes I00u, formed in handles I00 and spaced longitudinally thereof. A hood II2 having a central portion of general semi-cylindrical form in cross section is provided and the same extends over a portion of bar 45 and upwardly therefrom to above pulley 82a. Hood H2 is secured to members 28 in any suitable manner, as by the bolt 29. At its lower end hood H2 is secured by screws H4 extending into the sides of speed reduction unit 54. Hood II'2 has fiat side portions I I2a which extend outwardly and slightly downwardly therefrom and extend partly over wheels I0, as shown in Fig. 1. Another hood or shield I I0 is provided, the same being of general semi-cylindrical form, the front end thereof being disposed beneath 'the upper rear end of shield H2 and the rear end thereof extending to substantially the end of members 25. Shield H5 is secured at its front end by the bolts. 29 and is secured at its rear end in any suitable manner to members 25, as by the bolts I06.

In operation motor 60 will be operated. This will drive shaft 63 and counter-shaft 50 will be driven'through belt 8L Pulley 82a will be driven from counter-shaft 06 which pulley will drive the belt 83 so that shaft 54a of the speed reduction unit 54 will be driven. It will be noticed that pulley is of larger diameter than pulley 6d and that pulley 82 is of larger diameter than pulley 82a. There is thus quite a reduction of speed between shaft 03 and shaft 54a. A further reduction of speed takes places in the speed reducingunit 54 so' that shaft 54d is driven at much lower speed than shaft 54a. Disc 52 is driven by shaft 54a and this results in a reciprocation of link 49 which also oscillates and in turn oscillates arm 45a so that the lower end of member 45 is oscillated. This through link 43 reciprooates member 40 so that sickle 34 is reciprocated at the desired speed. Reciprocation of sickle 34 and the teeth 34a thereof in cooperation with teeth 3Ic efficiently cuts the grass or other material to be mowed. The shaft 5400f unit 54 is also driven and through pulleys 89 and belts 90 the wheels I0 will be driven, The driving otjwheels .will tcourse proveressitheflmoweralongi-the ground. ';When theoperatoricranhs n tartsth motor. .6 the cnanls-memberJA-cah DEJILQYQdflfiD a position opposite to that shown in Fig.5. The cran1;.-no :tion..oi member L4. is thuse lowered, lowering. the rear. end of \countereshait. 6-6 ahd'p illeytfll. llhis results. "sl ckenin or loos nin heltfii .so. that couh erzshaftfifi will. no be, riv n. When the opera or. is re dy. x11 h vethe cutter or. sickle .34 driven and the whee-1s. l0 riven, he will movethe. crankyltto i S; L 1'?'. mal posi ion. asshoyvnin Fig. .5. This-ti htens. belts! and th drive willnow be madeas above described. ;The .ooerator grasps o ho dsfth handles; lilo an c n uide the mower as desired. win to the mount hsof the. frameon the shaitgl iilit will be een. thattheirametean hev wun ehor ohta lyabout .a v rtical axis. passing. sub tantially throu hthe axis of shaft. idan aid fram canaJ QhesWung about, a horizontal. a is substantiall coinc nt with th axis. of axle H, ,The iramethi s has un versal movement a outshaft t andab ut am i locat dsub: ta i ia lv at t e. intersection of theaxss of. shaft ltuandaxlesll- When the-m wer isbein D1307, iQSSfii: the. operator. an. manipulate he frame t a the. sickle .-an t.s e.k1e bar are maintained pan lleltothe. ouhdwhere th cutting is bein ne 913411.? ma raise. e: end. Or, the, o herv t l ar stone st mpsto r o he v obsta l s. Th he sJflmaY oriall toiollow theterrain 1 9 have cons ant, equalized traction,eflect.

resents he ro hdwhe ethe cut s b ingmad hil th in b...b..r r.e. ehts th slop oftha around. over. which the -.whee .s. ar passing. By urningthei m abou t po n ,o movem ntby h handle 1 th o erator, can alwa s dispose hesic e and si kle. ba to :iol ow une n ro nd hdt voidohstacl s While u i g rass another row h .inroueh places such, a ditches alone hi hwa s:

,Wh nthe opera or wi h s. otu h .th ..ma.-.- chine, this can. be, accompli hed by. id of the, p w r, of motor. .60.. When the ope ator sw n sv one-han letwinw dly, as sh wn. in dotted lines. f rther ht hand handle. in Fi 3, the br cket as. is. mov d nwardly. and forwa dly. is through link aapushesforwardw on the pper end ofthe leverflawhich int rn pushes ;.f.or.:..

wardly on link 92. Link 92 moves the respective .endlotaxle. l forw rdly th same e eihatin about the cehterof sh ft .Whehthet hd of axle. is thus moved forwardly. the-respective belt fill is ,slackened. This resnltsina reduction of the. drive toth cor sp ndinewhee l t. The. Whee may be. d iven. a slower sp ed. firmer: not. be driven at all- The o he wheel L9. oht esto be driven and this wheel continues to progressso that ,the mower iscaused to turn, Instead oi;

havin to swin themower ent relytby .hahdtbe op rator moyesone orthe ot eroi helha dies. I 6.0 hiwardly so ewh a d. t e m h ne t nds: to. urn autom ic l W e o e hand e. is thus.

swung, inwardly the driven wheel reatlywassistst in makin a a ru t urn, re ui i i e ort on the pa t o he perat rging both QS can; be movedon the handle bars Hill and this adjustment will be, made, to, position the levers 93 and linksw9fi to give the desired tension on belts 9.0;, ,When the :frame oscillates about shaft I6, as described, the pulleys over which belts 93 run will be. moved slightly out of alinement.

This isillustrated in Fig. .6. This will not how- Q Q n erfere materially with the operation or drive, of the'belts .91]. The tension of belts BI and :3;-Q 1he..n ce1y= adjusted by adjustment of the nuts, onthet bolts Hand .16. By removing the lower-screws H4 securing the hood or shield H2, thepsame can heeleyatecl, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to give access to said parts of the machine. By having two of the bosses 3) and bolts 32, the bar .31 is very rigidly held in place.

From the above description it will be seen that I avemiovided avery eflicient and easily operated mdwer and, one which will have a high degreeofefficiency. The machineis also quite light inweight. The cutter is effectively driven from themotor on the machine and thewheels are..also driven asdesiredflso thatthemower is progressedby power and the operator is relieved of the laborof. pushingor propelling the same. The trameof-the machine and the cutter can be rnoved aboutiindependently of the wheels so ha the cutter. can be veryeffectively disposed so-asnto getthebest'results. As described, the device actsv to turnautomatically and this turning can be, controlledv with great ease by the operator, Theoperator will soon become very slgill fulin controllihg the turning. of the device nd ineuidin the. same. The; belt 8| and its control-by crank 14, constitutes ineffect a clutch between the motor .76 D, and the counter-shaft 6.6. The driving oftcounter shaf t .65 does not take place,- untiltlie operatorhas the motorin operation as desired; The fact thatthe motor .is.

disposed on the, frame at the rear of axlev I I, and the speed reduction unit 54 and parts carried therebvaresdisposed-atthe front of, axle II and substantially...the .;same.. distance. therefrom as thedmotorfii); resultsrin a nicev balance of the achinei nwardly .or rearwardiy o in s. umversaljoint moyementabout the axis of axle vI]. This-balance addsgreatly. to theeasevwith which thetmacl ine canine. manipulated. The. mower h-as b een ,amply1 demonstrated in actual ,practice an. hdt ;hetvery successful and efficienthahsest-ma lbemade .in th f rm,v details, ran em nt-land proportions ,of. the. parts, without departin from. the. scope of .applicants invention, which generally statedtconsists in a device pabl 0i ea r ingom the, ob ects above. set o hnih th parts co nati 0i par s d losed and d fined-in the. appendedclaims.

What claimed is:

Atdevioeaof the class described havingin combination, apairof wheels, an axleon which said wheelsarem iihted. a fram mounted. on aid; @22 3;fQLDWQlhIiI .IQQVBW-fl in .a vertical plahetahou t coincident with the ax s f saidaaxle, and for. oscillatingmovement laterally about,1.an-.a2sis;disnosed betw en: the ends of said a le, aihotohmpuhtesion, said fram i th rear i said axlel-a rec procatin si kle. carr d on said me,

11,. oi course...be-.underst od that var us the front and extending transversely-of aid itamameans tor reciprocat ng said. sickle fromsaid motor and handles attherearend of said frame for manipulating said frame to dispose said sickle in different planes without changing the positions of said wheels.

2. A device of the class described having in combination,'a pair of wheels, an axle on which said'wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said axle for oscillating movement relatively to said wheels in a horizontal plane about a substantial verticalaxis disposed between the ends of said axle and for oscillating movement in a planes'than the plane passing through the bottoms of said wheels.

3, A device of the class described having in combination, a pair of supporting wheels, means on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said means for movement in a horizontal plane and in vertical planes about apoint on said means substantially midway between said wheels, a motor mounted on said frame, a cutter carried on said frame at the front thereof and extending transversely of said frame, means for operating said cutter from said motor, means for driving said wheels from said motor and handles at the rear of said frame for swinging said frame and cutter relatively to said wheels.

4. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, a member on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said member for movement in planes substantially at right angles to each other, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame for operating said cutter and means at the rear of said frame adapted to be grasped by the operator for swinging said frame to bring said cutter into planes at an angle to a plane passing through the bottom of said wheels.

5. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, an axle on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said axle substantially at the center thereof and oscillatable in planes at right angles to each other about a point substantially in the axis of said axle, a cutter at the front of said frame and extending transversely thereof, handles projecting from the rear of said frame adapted to be held by the operator for swinging said frame and cutter, said frame being swingable in planes at right angles to each other whereby the operator can hold said cutter parallel with the ground while said wheels may rise or lower in accordance with the terrain ill-- dependently of the position of said cutter.

6. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, a member on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said member substantially at the transverse center thereof for swinging movement in vertical and horizontal planes, a cutter at the front of said frame ex tending transversely thereof and handles at the rear, of said frame and secured thereto constructed and arranged to be grasped by the operator, whereby said frame and cutter may be 1 moved about vertical or horizontal axes relatively to said wheels.

7. A mowing devicehaving in combination, a pair of wheels, an axle on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said axle for movement in a horizontal plane and in vertical planes about a point adjacent the center of said axle, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a motor on said frame for driving said cutter, and handles at the rear of said frame adapted to be grasped by the operator for universally swinging said frame and cutter to said wheels.

8. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, an axle on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said axle for vertical and horizontal swinging movement relative 'to said wheels, a cutter extending transversely at the front of sai'dframe," a motorfor operating said cutter, apair of means for respectively driving 'said wheels from said motor and means under the control ofthe operator for both swinging said frame and cutter and for rendering more or less inoperative one of said means whereby the wheel driven by the other of said means cause said de-- vice to turn. r

9. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, means on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said means for swinging movement relatively to said wheels in planes at right angles toeach other and about a point between said wheels, a cutter extending transversely at the front of said frame, a motor for operating said cutter, a pair of driving means for respectively drivingsaid wheels from said motor, a pair of handles at the rear of said frame for swinging said frame and means carried by said handles connected to said driving means respectively for rendering more or less inoperative one of said driving means whereby the wheel driven by the other of said means will cause said device to turn.

10. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, an axle on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said axle for vertical and lateral swinging movement relative to said wheels, a cutter extending transversely at the front of said frame, a motor for operating said cutter, a pair of means for respectively driving said wheels from said motor, a pair of movable handles at the rear of said frame for swinging said frame and, means connected to said handles and operated by movement thereof connected to said first mentioned means respectively for rendering one of said means more or less inoperative, whereby the wheel driven by the other of said means will cause turning of said device.

11. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of wheels, an axle on which said wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said axle for vertical and lateral swinging movement relative to said wheels, a cutter extending transversely at the front of said frame, a motor for operating said cutter, a pair of means for respectively driving said wheels from said motor, a pair of handles at the rear of said frame for swinging said frame and respectively pivoted for swinging movement, levers carried on said frame connected to said first mentioned means respectively and links connecting said handles and levers whereby the swinging of one of said handles will render more or less inoperative one of said means and the wheel driven by the other of said means will cause'said device to turn.

12. A mowing device having in combination, a pair of supporting wheels, an axle on which said Wheels are mounted, a frame carried by said axle, a cutter at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof}. a=mo.t0ron-.said frame at the rear of'said axle, a counter-shaft carried-ion said. frame abovesaid'amotorextending longitudinally thereof, a motor shaft, ar-pulley on said motor shaft, a pulley -onthe rear =end-ofisaid counter-shaft, a-belt connecting;said'pulleys for driving said counter-shaft from saidnmotorg a pulley adjacent the front zendsof-saidvcountershaft, means for driving saiducutter from-said counter-shaft including a belt running .over said lastmentioned pulley, a-ibearing for "saidcountershaft adjacent said first'mentioned 'pulley and means for raising and lowering saidloeari-ng for varying the position-.iofsaid counter-shaft for placing the desired tension on said belts 13. A mowing devicehaving inflcombination, a pair of wheels, anaxle onwhichsaid wheels are mounted, a frame mounted on said':axle, a cutter extending transversely at the front: of said frame, a motor for operating -said cutter, apaireof means for respectively driving saidwheels=from=said motor, a pair of laterally swingable :handles for manipulating said device; a-si-ngle resilient means for holding saidhandles -.in-normalcposition and means operated by swinging movement ofa handle for rendering more or less inoperative one ofsaid means drivingone of said wheels.

14. A mowing devicehavingiii-combination, a pair of Wheels, an-axle onwhich said'w-heels are mounted, a frame-sWingabl-y mounted onsaid axle, a cutter extending transverselyat-the front 'of saidframe; a motor for operating said cutter,

a pair of means forrespectively driving said wheels from said motor, including-a belt for each wheel, a pair of spaced handles extending rearwardly from said frame for swinging said frame andcutter, said handles being pivoted for lateral swinging movement, stop means engaged by said handles, a single spring for holding saidhandles .in.-normal positionengagingsaidstopmeans, and means operated by saidnhandles when swung laterally for slackening .said belts respectively whereby the drive to one or both of said wheels may -be-discontinued.

AXEL-M-.:WALSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of :reeord'in the file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

